Fujifilm X-T2 versus Canon 77D

The Fujifilm X-T2 and the Canon EOS 77D are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in July 2016 and February 2017. The X-T2 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the 77D is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixel. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Fujifilm X-T2 vs Canon 77D

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-T2 and the Canon 77D is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also toggle the display to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the X-T2 – represents the basis or 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon 77D is notably larger (7 percent) than the Fujifilm X-T2. Moreover, the 77D is markedly heavier (7 percent) than the X-T2. It is worth mentioning in this context that the X-T2 is splash and dust resistant,
while the 77D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras,
which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses.
You can find an overview of optics for the two cameras in the Fujinon X Lens Catalog (X-T2) and the Canon EF Lens Catalog (77D). Mirrorless cameras, such as the Fujifilm X-T2, have moreover the advantage that they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance and can thus use many lenses from other systems via adapters.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 77D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 44 percent) than the X-T2, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Fujifilm X-T2 vs Canon 77D

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the 77D is 10 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.5 (X-T2) and 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

Even though the X-T2 has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixel.
This implies that the X-T2 has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels
(with a pixel pitch of 3.92μm versus 3.72μm for the 77D), which gives it a potential advantage
in terms of light gathering capacity. It should, however, be noted that the 77D is a somewhat more recent model (by 7 months) than the X-T2, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the X-T2 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the X-T2 provides a higher video resolution than the 77D. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Fujifilm X-T2 vs Canon 77D

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the X-T2 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 77D has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Fujifilm X-T2 and Canon 77D in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras. If you need more detail on the specs, you can find comprehensive listings, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.

Both the X-T2 and the 77D are current models that good online retailers will have in stock. You can check the latest prices, for example,
at amazon. The X-T2 replaced the earlier Fujifilm X-T1, while the 77D followed on from the Canon T6s.

Review summary: Fujifilm X-T2 vs Canon 77D

So how do things add up? Is the Fujifilm X-T2 better than the Canon 77D or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Fujifilm X-T2:

Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.

Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.

More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in July 2016).

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 77D:

Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.

Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.

Easier setting verification: Has a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.

More flexible LCD: Has swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.

Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.

Longer lasting: Gets more shots (600 versus 340) out of a single battery charge.

Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (44 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Was introduced somewhat (7 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 77D comes out slightly ahead of the X-T2 (9 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision.

X-T2 08:09 77D

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the X-T2 or the 77D. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The detailed reviews can be accessed by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

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